Inbox: Moderat

In this chapter of Inbox, XLR8R talks shop with two-thirds of Berlin-based techno unit, Moderat. Cohorts Sascha Ring (a.k.a. Apparat) and Gernot Bronsert (one half of Modeselektor) discuss performing for a Sheikh’s daughter, escaping the city on a motorbike, colorful socks, and Johann Sebastian Bach, among other tidbits. Moderat’s self-titled debut full-length is out now on Bpitch Control.

XLR8R: What are you listening to right now?

Sascha Ring: I’m lying on my couch being sick ‘cause the first tour weekend was already a bit too hard. I’m not really listening to anything right now, but I just watched Burn After Reading—good movie for a sick couch afternoon.

Gernot Bronsert: Animal Collective! Great band.

What's the weirdest story you ever heard about yourself?

GB: That we recorded the Moderat record at the legendary Hansa [Tonstudio], where David Bowie and Depeche Mode recorded their best stuff!

What band did you want to be in when you were 15?

SR: I was already into techno and I thought bands sucked big time. I grew up at the countryside, and the coolest thing was when the 12” arrived that I ordered from Hard Wax in Berlin.

GB: When we played in Dubai for the eight-year-old daughter of a Sheikh!

Favorite city to play in?

SR: Moscow? Any city in the East. People really know how to party there. They know how to drink, too.

GB: Berlin, Glasgow, San Francisco.

Moderat combines Modeselektor and Apparat. Which musical elements does Moderat borrow from each of its two unique constituents?

GB: Next!

What is your favorite thing you own?

SR: I own an old East German motorbike. I’m seeing all kinds of cities all the time, so, whenever I find some time, I take a ride out to the countryside.

GB: My little son.

Name one item of clothing you can't live without.

SR: My very colorful socks.

GB: My hat!

If you could reduce your music to a single word, what would it be?

GB: Berlinstep.

What did you always get in trouble for when you were little?

SR: I tried all kinds of crime, but I always got busted. I decided on a career as a musician.

GB: Weed.

What other artist would you most like to work with?

SR: Modeselektor, haha—just kiddin’.

GB: Johann Sebastian Bach?

What's the last thing you read?

SR: Heinz Strunk's Fleisch Ist Mein Gemüse—very funny German writer. It's probably not available in English. The last international book I read was Kill Your Friends by John Niven. I laughed my ass off. Gernot recommended this one.

GB: Slumdog Millionaire

Complete this sentence: In the future...

SR: No one will probably buy music anymore.

GB: In the future you will find out: in the past the future was better too.

Stupidest thing you've done in the last 12 months?

GB: To work with Apparat!

What's next?

GB: On the occasion of the international financial crisis, me and [Sebastian] Szary decided to found a record label, Monkeytown Records. We wanted to create a platform for befriending artists. Check it out! We will release a new Modeselektor DJ mix in autumn.

SR: I’ll take a lot of time for my next album. No rush. I’m gonna try to have a life or something like that.

Accelerating Music and Culture. That's the creed that drives the people and content that shape XLR8R (pronounced "accelerator").
XLR8R's editorial is designed to break new artists and challenge cultural paradigms. XLR8R constantly strives to challenge its readers and provide a unique and inspiring experience.